2007 PhD Thesis Final Revised.pdf - Curtin University

ABSTRACT
People with disabilities, and in particular people who are blind or vision impaired,
are not embracing computing and Internet-related technologies at the same rate as the
able-bodied population. The purpose of this study was to find the reasons behind this
digital divide for people with disabilities and provide solutions. The investigation
into this ‘disability divide’ initially examined the historical significance of the social
construction of disability, the developments of computing and Internet-related
technologies and the evolution of associated government and corporate policies. In
order to gain an understanding of the specific elements in the current disability
divide, interviews were conducted with a range of government representatives,
multinational information technology developers and online information providers in
Australia and the United States of America. In order to gain an understanding of
what people with disabilities required from information technology, a national survey
was conducted with people who are blind or vision impaired to determine their
computing and Internet experiences. This study clearly identified that people with
vision disabilities have a high level of computing and Internet expertise and it is
specific barriers, rather than lack of will, that has prevented access to computing and
Internet-related technologies. These barriers include issues relating to the
perception of disability in society, Federal and state government policy, corporate
policy, mainstream computing products, assistive technologies, real-time online
communication, poverty and a lack of educational opportunities. Addressing the
issues in these areas will significantly reduce the impact of the disability divide,
allowing people who are blind or vision impaired to participate more effectively in
the information age.
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